Microsoft’s Surface 2 Finally Gets an LTE Infusion

The Surface 2, the second iteration of Microsoft’s Surface RT, already runs laps around its predecessor thanks to vastly improved internals and a 1080p screen. And now it’s about to get even better.

Microsoft has added a micro-SIM card slot to the Surface, which will let users access the web on the go with AT&T’s 4G LTE. The slot is unlocked too, so you should be able to insert a micro-SIM from any GSM carrier, like T-Mobile, and still get data on the device.

The new LTE version will go on sale tomorrow online at the Microsoft Store and at Best Buy locations around the U.S. — no word on availability in the rest of the world just yet.

While the Surface 2 with LTE is identical in almost every way to the non-LTE version, it is ever so slightly heavier than the Wi-Fi-only versions (about .02 pounds). I’ve held both in my hands and can verify the weight difference is all but impossible to notice, so it shouldn’t make any difference for day-to-day usage.

There is, however, a considerable price difference between the two devices. The LTE version will cost $679 for the 64 GB version — $130 more than the version with no LTE. There’s also no option for a 32 GB version with LTE yet. That might seem like a steep price to pay for a device that only runs apps from Microsoft’s Windows Store, but the Surface 2 comes bundled with Microsoft Office 2013. It’s also $150 less than Apple’s 64 GB LTE iPad Air, which retails for $829.

We wouldn’t normally suggest jumping to a newer version with so few tangible updates, but if you’re a current Surface owner and productivity is important to you, it’d make sense to at least consider trading up in this case. After all, there are few things more beneficial to productivity than LTE. Now, how about a Surface Pro 2 with LTE, Microsoft?